The nanny ignored her ingratiating smile: "Add one more dish of rice wine glutinous balls, the Old Mrs. Zhu just ordered it."
"Yes."
Nanny Rong was an old servant of Old Mrs. Zhu, usually relying on the master’s favor, she often put on airs towards the lower servants.
Normally, she’d have a little maid pass on ssages, but the temple fair’s staff was insufficient, quite a few had been sent out.
She couldn’t find anyone for the mont, and had to co in person this ti.
"When will it be ready? If it’s soon, I’ll take it directly."
The cook knew how to read faces, seeing her impatience, she quickly said: "Besides the rice wine glutinous balls, the fish soup is almost done, just sprinkle a handful of fresh onions, and it can be put into the stew pot."
"The other dishes are ready too, already packed one by one into containers that can be kept warm with hot water, they won’t get cold."
The nanny raised her chin: "Alright, I’ll take it to the Old Mrs. Zhu first, as for the rice wine glutinous balls..."
She sneered: "I have to serve the Old Mrs. Zhu, unlike you idle people."
The cook understood, while filling the fish she hastily said: "How could we let elder sister make another trip, I’ll have it ready right away and take it to the Old Mrs. Zhu. It’s just as well that such sweets are eaten after the al, it will surely make it in ti."
Nanny Rong was satisfied, once she left with the food boxes, the cook spat.
"Bah, all of us serve others, yet she acts noble, what a joke."
But scolding was one thing, she still couldn’t leave out the rice wine glutinous balls that the Old Mrs. Zhu desired, and she hurriedly went to fetch the flour.
anwhile, Nanny Rong carried the food box into Old Mrs. Zhu’s courtyard.
Once inside, she went to the inner room.
Upon entering, pushing the door inward, it was Old Mrs. Zhu’s small Buddhist hall. Inside was a statue of Guanyin.
"Old lady, it’s ti to eat."
"This old servant has checked, it’s all what you love to eat. There’s tender stewed pork knuckle, reddish goose breast, honeyed tofu, and a mushroom fish slice soup."
As she spoke, Yu Tingwan was reaching over the window.
Wei Zhao directly lifted his hand and poked a hole in the papered window for her.
Yu Tingwan thought his action was a bit impolite, but in the next mont, she also poked a hole and pressed her eyes close to look inside.
Old Mrs. Zhu knelt on the ditation mat, her eyes were still closed. She was very old, her hair entirely white, yet her expression was harsh.
The girl turned her head, not forgetting to whisper to the casually postured man beside her.
"I love to eat too."
Wei Zhao: ...
Is there anything you don’t like to eat?
Unaware of being spied upon, Old Mrs. Zhu’s brow furrowed deeply, she sighed: "These days, I’ve been uneasy."
The nanny behind her asked: "Are you worried about the eldest young master?"
Old Mrs. Zhu fiddled with her Buddha beads: "I have only one good grandson, who else could I be worried about?"
"It’s just that for years the Zhu Family has been doing wrong."
"I’m really afraid of retribution."
Her tone was fierce: "However... as long as I can extend his life, anything is worth it."
"Our Zhu Family’s offspring are incomparable to those lowly outsiders. Even using them is their fortune, it’s only those ignorant people who think they’re gaining sothing, rushing to send their children over."
For them to ruin.
And afterward, they still praise the Zhu Family for benevolence.
"But after all, that’s sorcery."
Old Mrs. Zhu: "Today, when they left the house, my eyelids wouldn’t stop twitching. Fearful of sothing happening. Go and tell them to be more careful after dark, the temple matters must not be exposed, or the Zhu Family is done for."
Doing good, praised by many.
But should anything go wrong, the downfall would be swift.
The nanny agreed, not forgetting to console: "You’re overthinking, what could possibly happen?"
"The forr County Magistrate was beheaded by an Imperial Censor the Court sent, and our Zhu Family managed just fine."
This was music to Old Mrs. Zhu’s ears.
"Do you think all the money spent over the years was wasted?"
As they talked, Yu Tingwan and Wei Zhao were eating.
They boldly went in through the main gate.
Yu Tingwan, afraid of being caught, quickly served herself so rice, intending to take so dishes outside to eat.
But Wei Zhao, acting as if he was alone, calmly served her a bowl of fish soup.
"If you like it, eat slowly."
"Take your ti eating, no need to rush."
Standing, Yu Tingwan hesitated for a mont, then sat down beside him.
She took a bite of food.
Getting a free al, it tasted quite good.
Yu Tingwan knew she was dood.
Her own faulty nature, sooner or later, would be fully uncovered by Wei Zhao.
"But I’m a bit scared."
Wei Zhao: "It’s just a wicked Zhu Family, what’s there to fear? If anyone should be afraid, it’s them."
This... made perfect sense.
Yu Tingwan took a sip of soup and comnted: "It’s not as good as mom’s."
Wei Zhao: "Indeed."
Yu Tingwan ate another piece of pork knuckle he gave her.
"This one’s alright."
Wei Zhao: "Just make do for now, when we reach Shangjing, I’ll take you to the Drunken Pavilion for Crispy Bone Fish."
"It’s a recipe handed down from ancestors, with a rich aroma that perates the fish at and every bone, lting in your mouth, juicy."
Just hearing that made Yu Tingwan’s mouth water: "Okay."
Each dish wasn’t much.
Once full and ready to leave, Yu Tingwan, with good intentions and proper manners, tidied up a bit.
Old Mrs. Zhu finally finished her sincere prayers to the Buddha and was helped out by the nanny.
There was no trace of any outsider ever being there.
Old Mrs. Zhu, considering herself graceful and noble, sat down.
She was indeed hungry.
The nanny opened the food box and took out a half-eaten fish soup.
Old Mrs. Zhu: ?
Then there were so dishes that were just broth. And sohow, used bowls and chopsticks appeared out of nowhere.
Old Mrs. Zhu: ???
She shrieked: "Who did this?"
anwhile, the culprits strolled to Old Master Zhu’s study.
The study door was locked.
Yu Tingwan: "Uh, should we look for an axe?"
"No need."
Wei Zhao: "Lend your hairpin."
Yu Tingwan didn’t know what he wanted to do, but she still took it off and handed it to him.
Wei Zhao took it, and casually turned it in the lock.
With a click, it opened.
Yu Tingwan: !!
Wei Zhao put the hairpin back on her, pushed the door, and entered.
The study had everything it should, even luxurious items.
Yu Tingwan scanned around, eyeing a few expensive items, ready to take the gold ingots on the desk.
Wei Zhao softly said: "Wait for a mont."
He walked around, finally stopping in front of a bookshelf, reaching out to touch, locating a spot.
A heavy sound ca, and the shelf moved to the right, exposing a passage.
Wei Zhao extended his hand to Yu Tingwan: "Co."
Yu Tingwan: !!
The two walked inside.
It was a hidden chamber.
Inside were boxes of gold and silver jewels.
Yu Tingwan: !!!
This is all... hers!
She looked around, unable to get enough.
Then she looked at Wei Zhao.
"You..."
Wei Zhao instinctively felt it wasn’t sothing nice.
Yu Tingwan: "You’re quite the thief."
She consoled: "Don’t worry, I’m not a good person either."
Set aside personal integrity, and enjoy a cheeky life.
User Comments
0 comments from readers